Doug Fister had about as good of a start as could be asked for whether or not someone is coming back from the DL. He threw seven scoreless innings, scattering 4 hits, striking out 3 and only throwing 78 pitches. This type of showing is what Tiger’s fans have come to expect from Doug Fister since coming over from the Mariners. In many ways, Fister has been better than MVP and Cy Young award winning teammate Justin Verlander since joining the Tigers. He has a lower ERA, WHIP, and batting average against than Verlander and also has more wins. I’m certainly not saying that Fister is better than Verlander, but I’d say it’s clear the move to Detroit has been nothing but positive for the Tigers and Fister and that Verlander and Fister probably succeed in learning from and pushing each other. That spells nothing but good things for Tiger’s fans.

Sadly, Fister’s great start was accompanied by more lack of offense and a poor outing by Dotel for the 2nd game in the row. The Tiger’s offense left another 13 runners on base, only walked once, struck out 9 times, and only scored 2 runs. Andy Dirks was again batting second, which I said earlier should have been the case coming out of spring training given ability to get contact compared to Boesch, and didn’t disappoint for the second game in a row. He had two hits and a walk and is currently hitting .333. Couldn’t agree with that move more. Now if only I could get Leyland to sit Raburn more often and move Peralta and Boesch up a spot we’d really be talking.

In the 9th Dotel blew the save without recording an out which left a runner on second and no outs all but securing the loss for the Tigers. Sadly, Dotel has not kept up his lights out pitching. Dotel has experience as a closer and along with his having not allowed a run this season until the previous game I certainly wasn’t concerned about his coming in to close the game with Valverde and Benoit both being unavailable and struggling of late. However, he failed to live up to his previous outings and allowed the save to be blown and the game lost. The back end of the bullpen has become a large area of concern recently for the Tigers. Am I concerned that it can’t or won’t be righted? No. Am I concerned that they were even in that situation because of a lack of offense? Absolutely. I’m not sure how much of a hole the Tigers can afford to get themselves into even in the weak Central Division. Another bat might be needed now and not just at the trade deadline.